French foreign minister meets UN chief, reiterates commitment to 2-state solution

ISTANBUL

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and reiterated the commitment towards a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The Minister reviewed the situation in the Middle East. He reiterated France’s commitment to the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security," the ministry said in a statement after the meeting on the sidelines of the UN conference on Palestine in New York.

The ministry said President Emmanuel Macron's announcement on recognition of the state of Palestine in September "marks a new phase" as part of a "global political dynamic supported by the conference."

"The Minister and the Secretary-General also discussed the situation in Lebanon in the leadup to this August’s negotiations on renewing UNIFIL’s mandate. The Minister emphasized the vital role played by the UN Mission in terms of Lebanon’s security and regional stability, and reiterated France’s involvement through the participation of its military contingent," the statement added.

The ministry said that the two also discussed Iran's nuclear program, calling for a "negotiated settlement" within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"France stands ready to contribute to this effort, in cooperation with its partners," it added.